One of our favorite tapas restaurants in Barcelona! The croquettes and potatoes bravas were amazing, the atmosphere was charming and the service was efficient. read more

Unique little restaurant. Very interesting menu. We had an oxtail stuffed pasta and a beef cheek with puréed sweet potato vegetable. It was a very tasty. Modest indoor seating, typical of the area. Fair to good service. read more

On our first break from all Spanish food all day we (upon recommendation from frequent Barcelona travelers) had brunch here. Delightful. Staff was funny and accommodating. Atmosphere was lovely and romantic - a mix of French bistro/your favorite NYC date spot. The place was named for the beautiful movie which was her mother's favorite - so in honor of her mother. Mixed menu of American brunch and all else global. I had a cheese and tomato on croissant- not getting too far from all good things Spanish and hubby had Shakshuka which he said was delish. Espresso was terrific as was the fresh pressed lemonade (needed after loads of good wine the day before). In honor of the romance of the place we also had a glass of cava - great of course in the motherland. Reservations needed but they flexed kindly when we were late - couldn't catch our bus as a film was being shot on the street of our stop so we just hot footed it and called ahead. They were not concerned. As we were close we changed plans and rented bike to cruise La Ciutadella Park - totally worth it. Please forgive typos - traveling in wine country! read more

Elsa y Fred - Salon column - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

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We made 630 reservations at the bar. Upon arriving, they offered us a table for two right near the kitchen, which provided dinner and a show. Service was friendly and attentive, with good suggestions. Red Sangria- delicious 5 Tuna tar tar - very good but needed many more rice crisps than the 2 provided to scoop up the cubes of tuna. 4 Lamb Tambale 5 Beef Carpacio 5 First dessert on menu OMG 5 Don't hesitate read more

Elsa y Fred - Beef carpaccio - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

We walked in and got seated in a few minutes without a reservation. Servers were friendly. The food and drinks were good. I don't usually eat ceviche, but it was delicious here. The lamb had an interesting pistachio hummus. The decor was nice. read more

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What a find! We had some incredible Tapas, delicious Tempranillo, and pistachio ice cream that should be mandatory postre for all visitors. The servers even sang me a Happy Birthday song and gave me a slice of sinful chocolate cake. It was a little bit too loud for talking but the food and wine experience more than made up for the slightest of challenges. My yardstick for successful restaurants is if it's full of patrons. It was tonight but a table was found for us quickly and we were eating and drinking in no time. Awesome experience! Highly recommend! read more

Elsa y Fred - The entrance to Elsa Y Fred - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

We came here on my sister's recommendation (insistence, really), and were overjoyed with our experience. We had reservations but ended up being very early (definitely our fault) so we got put at a weird tiny coffee table that had two short squishy armchairs. Not our ideal eating setup, but they were pretty comfy. The dishes we had: Patatas bravas - They tasted great, and the house dipping sauce was phenomenal (I would eat this on everything until the end of time), but they weren't my favorite cut of bravas. They were beefy chunks, like maybe 1/4 potato each. Again, good taste, I just generally prefer a smaller and crispier potato in this form. Cured salmon and fennel salad - Tasty, but wouldn't necessarily say is a "must try" dish. Grilled octopus - Genuinely the best-cooked octopus I've ever had in my life. The texture was heavenly, and paired with the sunchoke puree, it made for an incredible bite of food. This was my favorite dish here. Lamb timbale - Also excellent. The lamb was cooked perfectly, and the pistachio hummus was unlike any other hummus I've ever had. A really well balanced dish. Drunken sponge cake - So so good. I was super stuffed from our other plates, and still couldn't resist taking a few bites of this cake. The hazelnut ice cream that this came with was stellar. read more

Elsa y Fred - Patatas bravas - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

We stopped in for tapas on our last evening in the city. We tried the burrata, the octopus, the lamb, the potatoes and the of course the olives. Everything was delicious! I'm especially still dreaming and drooling over those green olives... highly recommend this cute little restaurant!! read more

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I came to this restaurant twice during my trip in Barcelona since I liked it so much and it was walking distance from my airbnb. It was a small restaurant and walked in both times and they were able to fit me in. The service here was great, the waitress spoke really good English and were attentive. I ordered the octopus, Burrata, patatas bravas, and the tuna tartar. I enjoyed all of my dishes, they were fresh and delicious. I recommend coming to this restaurant when you're in Barcelona! read more

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Food was amazing- great ambience - popular so very busy and service reflected that a little but overall highly recommend read more

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The food here is so amazing!! You won't be disappointed. The staff is lovely and will offer you suggestions if you ask. The environment is so wonderful and you are in the middle of a great spot in town too. Leave room for dessert because you have so many wonderful choices. The cava here is the best I have had in town. Absolutely loved it!! read more

Elsa y Fred - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

Delectable tapas. Each dish crafted and prepared with thought. We throughly enjoyed the tuna tartare with black rice crisps, grapes, and a gingery sauce over an almond cream. Soooo tasty and unique. The squids were cooked to perfection, tender, light, and paired excellently with baby veggies. read more

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Amazing tapas. Bit pricey and quite small so seating can be difficult. Great sangria. read more

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Our tour guide made reservations for us at 3pm. We arrived over an hour early and there were still a few outdoor seating tables available. Coca bread with tomato: thinly sliced crusted bread with fresh tomatoes (El Penjadís hanging tomatoes) smeared thinly on top and olive oil mostly drizzled in the center. This tasted delicious by itself and paired with the Iberian Ham on top. I would get this again. The Iberian Ham tasted a little too gamey for me. The cannelone was part of the daily menu. It was mandalin sliced rolled zucchini stuffed with spinach. It was a light vegetable dish. The patatas bravas was very good. I loved the garlic white sauce and the mild spicy chile sauce. It was wondering crispy on the outside and so soft on the inside. I would get this again. The Ham croquette was also very good and I would definitely get this again. Some people may not be in love with the interior texture, it was mushy like but the ham and cheese flavor was on point. The exterior was crispy. The grilled squid was a pleasant surprise. It was chewy but still tasty with the mild yuzu vinaigrette. I loved the baby carrots and baby corn. Lastly tried a roasted beef open faced sandwich. It was good with a type of mayo sauce on thinly sliced toasted bread. Free WiFi. Our waitress cautioned us from leaving our phones out on the table as some people passing by may try to steal it. The only downside is the service was a bit slow but overall enjoyed the food! read more

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Wonderful ambience, fantastic food. Burrata. This was fresh, light, creamy, crunchy...great starter. Tartar. Perfectly made. The beef was tender and you can actually taste the meat. The sauce was flavorful with highlights of tarragon. The presentation was not only pretty, but useful as you can add as much sauce as you'd like to the tartar vs. it being drenched in it. Porchetta. Crispy, savory, tender, melt-in-your mouth. The mushrooms accentuated the dish perfectly with umami flavored texture. Octopus. Delicious, tender with delightful crispy ends. Light smokey flavor was great addition and not overpowering. This restaurant's servers are very friendly, speak with hyper-sonic super speed and eloquence, and fashionable in their demeanor and dress. I love this place and I highly recommend. read more

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The food was fantastic! The cava sangria was great and the Tuna tartar was well done on the black rice cracker

Probably my favorite restaurant of the trip. Small setting, and I can see how some of the tables aren't set to "American" tastes (but they aren't as close as Paris!). The food was SO good. Traditional dishes with a modern/global spin. I loved everything we tried - the kimchi croquettes deserved a second round! Flavors and textures were outstanding. Staff was welcoming, friendly and accommodating. I would return and highly recommend. read more

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First of all we were treated so badly the moment we walked in. We had stopped there earlier in the day and asked what time they closed since we were doing the touristy stuff we knew it would be later in the day. We went back for dinner around 8:30 p.m. and the girl that greeted us at the door was very rude and asked if we had a reservation. We said no and asked if we could be seated for dinner anyway. She said "wait" and left us standing in the doorway. She came back and said it would be 20 to 30 minutes, I said ok and gave her our name. I moved over and 2 women came behind us and asked if they could be seated, the girl asked if they had a reservation and they said no. She then said, "ok, I have 2 seats at the bar." WTF!! She totally told us 20 to 30 minutes, yet for them also without a reservation they could sit at the bar!! I then told her why, why was it different for them, she could not give answer, and the 2 ladies apologized to us, and took the bar!! RUDE, DISRESPECTFUL, AND UNPROFESSIONAL!! This is NOT the way customers should be treated!!! read more

Cute little spot that was luckily located close to our hotel. We strolled in around 6:00 and were seated immediately. Service was friendly and the ladies working were more than happy to speak English with us because our Spanish was definitely lacking. We ordered the red sangria to start and it was amazing, not too sweet and did the job. The potatoes were finger licking delicious, we could've easily had two orders. The tuna tartar was our second favorite. It was marinated with this yummy oil of sorts, and we couldn't get enough. The beet gazpacho was refreshing and the burrata on top was a nice touch. The octopus was served nicely and cooked well, but we were full by the time this arrived so we didn't finish. We will definitely be back for some sangria and potatoes! read more

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The cutest little spot in Barcelona. Adorable and intimate- perfect for a small group or date night. Great and extensive cocktail menu. Our servers were helpful and quick. Be sure to leave room for carrot cake! read more

Elsa y Fred - Negroni - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

As fabulous as they all say! This was seriously one of the best meals I've ever had. It was off the daily menu. I was there during the 1pm-3:45pm window for the menu del dia. Starter, main, dessert and drink for 15 euros. Each dish was perfect and original. The starter that looks like sushi has the fish in the white "rice" portion in an unusual and delicious form. The salmon was grilled perfectly - moist with crispy skin, and the generous portion of "smashed beets with pistachio oil" was a spectacular side / sauce. The coconut ice cream was likely fresh-made, and was on a layer delicious cookie crumbs. Note the word "delicious" appears here often. The menu-del-dia at many restaurants is a way for the chef to show off and try new dishes. Often the items on it are not on the main menu. Friendly people. Great looking place, good sound & great unusual music. I shazamed a couple of songs and have been enjoying the full albums. --- I liked this place so much I came back for another menu del dia. Alas it was a holiday - Constitution Day, and they were only serving the regular menu. The tuna tartare was up to "whoa, that's good" level of the previous items, the croquette was pretty good. I was underwhelmed by the squid fritters. read more

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From the moment we entered this quaint local dive we were impressed. From the vintage decor, to the quick service. The food was incredibly fresh & tasty. I ordered eggs, cheese, bacon on country toast, my hubby ordered avocado toast w greens...scrumptious . The fresh must have been squeezed that morning. It was our 1st time visiting Barcelona. This will be a must go back to on our next adventure there. read more

Elsa y Fred - Breakfast - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

We made a reservation more than a month in advance and stopped by Elsa y Fred for dinner when we were in Barcelona in November. The place was cute and cosy and definitely a popular spot for dining even in the early dinner time (~7pm) according to Catalunya's standards. I loved that there's cute detail that they out into our reservation. For instance, even thougg the place was already crowded, our table was ready for us when we arrived. There was also a cute empty wine bottle with our party's reservation name + number of diners in a party on the label as a RSVP placeholder on our table. We also had a table to our own corner so we could have a nice, quiet conversation with each other. We ordered quite a few tapas dishes to try and enjoyed our conversation. I would say the ambiance made it a good place, but the food was just ok compared to other places we had been to (granted we really onky picked highly rated places to dine to begin with..so our expectations were kind of high). While nothing was bad, nothing in particular stood out either. The service and ambiance was fine, so that brought it a solid 4 stars rating in my book. Overall, a solid place to check out. Given such high competition in dining/tapas places in Barcelona though...we were vlad to have been to Elsa y Alfred but unless other people we come with want to try this place, we may opt to check out other cool places next time we are in town. read more

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Love it when a restaurant gives me dirty looks for bringing in my toddler. The bigger problem was the GROWN WOMAN who fell out of her chair in the middle of the restaurant, while my child sat quietly through the whole meal. To top it off, the food was mediocre at best. Croquetas de Jamon had no flavor, the artichokes lacked salt and acid, and the patatas bravas needed salt. The only highlight was the pistachio ice cream. The people here need to work on both their attitude and their food! read more

Food: - Tuna was marinated too sweet - Bravas were crispy and tasty but the flavor of the sauce wasn't anything to rave home about. - Coffee is good, oat milk available Service service is quick and friendly. Location is small cute, tucked away, and cozy. read more

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Elsa y Fred does a unique spin on the classic Spanish tapas. The restaurant is small with a cool warm ambiance and quick service. The menu consists of modern versions of classic tapas, boasting impeccable food presentation and flavor combinations. One of my favorites was the kimchi croquettes. Everything here is good, especially the seafood which is ultra fresh. The tapas are priced on the higher side, but if you are willing to try new flavors, this is the place. read more

Elsa y Fred - Kimchi Croquette - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

A fun spot for drinks & small bites to eat with my daughter on our recent trip to Barcelona -- we'd read rave reviews online and in guidebooks... the food was pretty good and the waitresses were friendly, it was smaller and a bit more cramped than I'd expected, but definitely worthwhile and we enjoyed it overall. read more

I think the worst thing I could say about this place is the prices. The food was great and service was efficient. The menu had some things you normally don't see in Spain so it was a nice break from traditional Spanish food. I would recommend for sure! The ambiance of the whole place was super calm and such great decoration! read more

Elsa y Fred - Pastrami sandwich - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

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Went in for breakfast earlier, we were a party of 4 seated in a corner behind the entrance doors and given menus, no silverware. As the single server went around the restaurant taking orders, delivering food, seating people that came In after we did, no attention was given to our table other than the nasty women behind the counter continuously telling us 1 minute. When the party of 4 that came in and was seated, given silverware, and drinks we decided to leave. The food may have been great but due to the horrible service I will never know and certainly never go back. I would have put 0/ no stars if that were an option. Your customers are your guests, that is not how to treat a guest! read more

You can go to Elsa y Fred's without a reservation, but you'd be a fool to try! Having been turned away on Friday night for lack of reservation, we got a slot for brunch on Sunday morning. Outstanding food, both the Benedicts we got were basically perfect. Highly recommend both the Smoked Salmon and Avocado with Roasted Tomato. Don't forget the Patatas Bravas! read more

Great cocktails, Great food, Great people. Nice interior. Good location. Correct prices.

We had a fabulous dinner here. The service, food, drinks, and ambiance were top notch. We ordered 4 tapas and enjoyed them all very much. Our favorites were the scallop bao and the lamb. We were seated near the kitchen, it was fun seeing the chefs prepare the food and look at all the plates as they went out. The dining area is cozy, classy, and welcoming. I highly recommend Elsa y Fred. read more

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We waited for a server to acknowledge us and the workers were too busy talking with each other to notice us. Just by the first impression alone, it is not worth it. read more

This spot is pretty undeniably great. The girlfriend and I came by this spot after a much later than usual arrival in the city. We didn't have a reservation but the reviews looked good and the place was full. We sat outside which wasn't ideal due to the cold but the food came quickly and deliciously. We enjoyed a couple appetizers as pictured in the photos I uploaded but my personal favorites were the burger and the calamari sandwich on black bread. The fact that we enjoyed the food so much even while having to eat outside should be testament enough to how much a fan I am of this place. Come through bruh. read more

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A review from a past trip: My wife and I stayed at a hotel next to Elsa y Fred and we were constantly passing by this place as we went about out day. At first glance we thought this place was just a typical bar/tapas place but man were we wrong. The place had a great vibe, very hip, but not pretentious at all. In my experience, locals are not the nicest to tourist, I wouldn't say they are rude but I can feel the "eye rolling." This place however was very friendly. Some stand out dishes: 1. Patatas bravas - Huge slices of potatoes that are fried crisp on the outside and soft, almost fluffy, on the inside. Oh and that spicy sauce, great touch, no need for American ketchup here. 2. Grilled octopus - This was perfectly cooked, it had an ideal consistency with a nice charred taste. The seasoning was on point. 3. Burger bull - There are no words to describe this thing, but I will try. If you can imagine...perfectly braised oxtails, meat stripped off the bone, seasoned, squeezed into a patty, carefully seared, then placed in the best burger bun you can find...you have the Burger bull. The patty just melts in your mouth like you took a bite of the most delicious oxtail soup created. I still think about this burger sometimes. Sadly I have not found a comparable burger here in the States. Overall busy, hip, very crowded place, with fantastic food. I am glad we decided to eat there that night. read more

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Great spot to eat in the gothic corridor of Barcelona. The Burrata was some of the best I'd had. There are also a lot of good bar options nearby for after/before the meal. read more

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Service and food were good, prices were a little high, and wines were a bit astringent (I tried two, so this was a real surprise!). Patatas bravas were generously cut, which was different than what I've had elsewhere, but really perfectly fried. Pan cristal with brie, sun dried tomatoes, and truffles was very tasty. I'd recommend both of those. I'd agree with the other reviewer that said the texture of the jamon croquette isn't for everyone. read more

Read good reviews of this place as we visited the Arc de Triomf. The Iberian Ham and eggs were very flavorful and beautifully presented. Delicious food, strong coffee, and English speaking staff. One star off for a pretty tight space. read more

Elsa y Fred - Vienna Toast! Simple, but delicious! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B

Excellent place for tapas - especially late at night! Came here for the first night after landing in Barcelona and checking into the hotel. Short quarter mile walk and it is close to the Arc de Triomphe. Nice neighborhood with lots of other businesses there. Arrived at 11pm and it was busy. Waitstaff spoke English and informed us that the kitchen closes at midnight but the bar stays open all night... We ordered the shortribs, octopus, salad, jamon, and sangria. Loved every dish but the favorite was the grilled octopus - so tender - fork tender! They give you a shot of digestive (liquor) after the meal complimentary to help you digest the yummy food that late at night! Definitely a must return to place! read more

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Based on Google reviews, I expected this place to be absolutely amazing, but to be completely honest except the nice setup and ambiance, everything was just ok. It was all good and fine, but nothing outstanding. For example, when we accidentally dropped our fork and when we asked for a new one when we finally saw a waitress (more than five minutes later), she still forgot it and did not bring it until I saw her again about 5 minutes later and could ask again. Our cups after the first round of beers were empty for at least fifteen minutes before we stopped the waitress and asked her for the second round... Not sure why she did not check on us by herself. I guess that is Europe, baby. They only got two beers on draft and as a beer girl, that is not exactly my happy place when two out of the two beers are bigger brands and both of them are lager style, but then again, I am in Europe, so I won't be mean about this. As for the food, it was not bad but it also was not something absolutely amazing and impressive to remember. Overall, a good place with OK customer service and ok food. read more

Elsa y Fred - Some delicious beer selection here! Bill Damm is delicious! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Barcelona, B